There's a lot more to Atlanta on the 4th of July than the Peachtree Road Race. The metro area is home to lots of great Independence Day celebrations and events.
So, for your 4th of July activity guide, here's a list of what's happening on our signature national holiday:
Avondale Estates: Lineup for Avondale Estates' city parade starts at 9:15 a.m. at Avondale High. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. Fireworks will be set off over Avondale Lake at dark, and the Bluenotes will perform at the lake.
Buckhead: Lenox Square is home to the largest fireworks display in the southeast. The show begins at 6 pm with local bands providing live musical entertainment. The fireworks are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:35 p.m. Lenox Square shops are open from 10 am to 6 pm.
The Museum of Design Atlanta will be hosting a July 4th celebration centered around its most recent exhibit, Skate It or Hang It!?, at the Shops Around Lenox. This extreme sports meets art event will feature skating demos every hour, a food truck court, an artists alley with 12 Atlanta-based artists, a live tagging demo by HENSE and a painting demo by Chris Hamer.
Centennial Park: Fireworks start about 9:40 p.m.
Chamblee: The city's annual celebration begins at 2 pm on Wednesday at Keswick Park with live musical entertainment; a bike parade; circus shows; a pony hop race and a watermelon seed-spitting contest. Other activities include moonwalks, spider/bungee jumping, train rides, rock wall climbing, corn hole games and more. A fireworks show will conclude the evening.
Chastain Park: Activities will include waterslides, live music, pool games, pony rides and inflatable moonwalks. The firetrucks and firemen from Station 27 will be there as well. Festivities will begin at 11:30 a.m. on West Wieuca Road and Dudley Lane.
Decatur: The July 4th Pied Piper Parade starts at the First Baptist Church of Decatur on Clairemont at 6 p.m. and ends at the Community Bandstand with a presentation of colors and the Star Spangled Banner. A concert by the Callanwolde Concert Band begins at 7 p.m. at the bandstand. Fireworks begin at dark and are shot off from the DeKalb County government parking deck.
Dunwoody: The city's 4th of July parade route begins at Jett Ferry Road and Mount Vernon and ends in Dunwoody Village.
Stone Mountain: The park's festivities begin at 10:30 am. The Lasershow starts at 9:30 a.m. and is followed by fireworks.
Midtown: July 4 at the Children's Museum. Children will be creating American flags and decorating water bottle holders and funglasses in red, white, and blue to take with them later to the fireworks show across the street at Centennial Olympic Park.
North Druid Hills: July 4 outdoor carnival at the First Alliance Church on North Druid Hills Road. Food, inflatables, water fun, games and more to celebrate the holiday.
Roswell: The city's 12th annual fireworks show is held at Roswell High School. Live entertainment begins at 6 pm.
Turner Field: The Atlanta Braves take on the Chicago Cubs at 7 pm, and fireworks follow after the game.
Virginia-Highland: Atkins Park in Virginia-Highland is hosting its Fifth Annual Go Whole Hog or Go Home Pig Pickin’ Fourth of July Celebration on Independence Day. The “meat and three” meal is $15 per person. Starting at 4 p.m., guests can participate in the Backyard Beer Olympics. Games include ping pong, ladder ball, cornhole, horseshoes and darts, and over $500 in prizes will be awarded to the winners.